Page 35 of Three Pucking Wedding Dates

17

REID

The steam from my morning coffee dances in the air as I take a slow sip. The rich, dark flavor floods my mouth, and I can’t help but close my eyes in contentment. My mind drifts back to last night.

I never would have seen this coming.

It’s not my first time sharing a woman, but I never thought I’d be doing so with Gray. Never imagined that the three of us—friends since childhood—would be exploring each other in such an intimate way.

And I never would have guessed that I’d enjoy every second of it.

A part of me feels like I should worry about what happens next. After all, relationships are messy, and adding my brother into the mix only complicates things further. But I shake my head, brushing off those thoughts. No, I’ve always been a firm believer in enjoying the moment, and that’s exactly what I intend to do.

“Good morning,” a feminine voice says from behind me.

“Good morning, Oakley.” I turn around to face her, smiling.

Instead of Oakley’s radiant smile, I’m met with a pair of sparkling hazel eyes that belong to my younger sister, Iris.

“Oakley?” she says, beginning to get excited. “Have you spoken to her recently?”

I swallow. I’ve never been one to lie, especially to Iris. “You could say that.”

She narrows her eyes at me. “There’s more to it.”

I take another sip of my coffee. “She’s here.”

“Reid!” she exclaims, her expression morphing into one of disbelief and delight. “It’s been ages since I’ve seen Oakley! Where is she? I can’t wait to catch up!”

“Hey, sis—” I try to keep my tone casual, hoping to defuse her excitement. “Oakley’s around, but she might still be asleep. Maybe we could all catch up later?”

Undeterred by my suggestion, Iris practically bounces on the balls of her feet, her red curls bouncing along with her. “Oh, come on, Reid! It’s been years! I just can’t wait any longer!”

She races upstairs, and my heart drops because there is something up there she might not want to see. I follow after her.

Iris’s impatience is palpable as she darts from one guest room to another, her red curls bouncing wildly with each rapid movement.

“Wait, Iris,” I call out, my voice strained with urgency. “You can’t just barge into people’s rooms!”

She doesn’t even spare me a glance, her focus entirely on finding Oakley. It feels like time is both speeding up and slowing down.

“Oakley!” Iris calls out, her excitement bubbling over. “Where are you?”

“Seriously, Iris, stop!” I plead, but it’s no use. She’s like a force of nature, unstoppable in her pursuit. My stomach churns with anxiety.

Finally, Iris reaches the door to the room where Oakley and Gray spent the night. I know because I was with them…

“Oakley, are you in there?” Iris asks, her voice quivering with excitement. She doesn’t wait for a response before flinging the door open wide.

The sight that greets us is both tender and damning: Oakley and Gray, tangled together in each other’s arms, their expressions peaceful and vulnerable in sleep.

“Wha—” Iris stammers, her face draining of color. Her eyes widen with disbelief, and her mouth opens and closes like a fish gasping for air. The excitement that was radiating from her moments ago has evaporated, replaced by shock and horror.

“NO!” she shrieks, the word slicing through the silence like a razor. Oakley jolts awake, her green eyes flying open in confusion.

Oakley looks disoriented and vulnerable, her bright green eyes darting between Iris and me. Then, realization dawns on her.

“Oakley…” Iris chokes out, her face contorted with a mix of hurt and betrayal. Her hazel eyes, once sparkling with excitement, now burn with rage and disappointment.

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